Community submissions to the inquiry reveal many residents suffered headaches, nose bleeds and those with existing conditions, such as asthma, found their health had deteriorated.

Mr Brook said there was no statistical increase in the number of people presenting to the local emergency department or calling ambulances, but more than 2000 people were assessed at a community health centre set up to respond to the fire.

The inquiry earlier heard air pollution was 10 times the acceptable levels during the peak of the fire, but scientists weren't able to measure it accurately at the time.